Control for shoe pressing elements



Jan. 29, 1935. c. A. MEISEL ET AL 1,989,600

CONTROL FOR SHOE PRESSING ELEMENTS Filed Jan. 21, 1933 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 OAMeisel 59 aaE/ueisel Jan. 29, 1935. c. A. MEISEL El AL CONTROL FOR SHOE PRESSING ELEMENTS 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Jan. 21', less gr WW5" (ZA/Meisel- 0.0.E/Mkisel Patented Jan. 29, 1935 CONTROL FOR SHOE PRESSING ELEMENTS Charles; A.v Meisel and Otto C. F. Meisel, Milton,

Mass, assignors Mass.

to, George Laganas, Lowell,

Application January 21, 1933, Serial-No. 652,919 4* Claims; (01. 251 89) This invention relates to a shoe leveling, shaping and sole securing machine, and more particularly has reference to an improved construction for a control for a compressed air op- 5 erated shoe pressing element for, such a machine and to a means. for controlling the air supply thereto.

Previously, shoes have been leveled and shaped and soles securedthereto by various means, including the use of a pneumatic pressing element having a flexible wall to fit against the bottom part of thesho e while the shoe is ona last. The shoe and last are held against this flexible wall and air under pressure is admitted to the element thus forcing the flexible wall tightly against the bottom of the shoe and levelingand shaping the shoe against the last. Similarly, pressure has been applied against the soles of shoes to hold them in place after the soles have 24),, been applied to the shoes by means of cement or other like material.

It has been necessary to makeone wall of the pressing element of rigid material such as cast iron so that it can be attached to the machine or other support upon which it is to be placed. This attachment must be rigid in order that the pressing element may have a'proper and positive backing or foundation. The other wall of the pressing element must however be flex- 30 ible in order that the air pressure within the element might force this other wall against the bottom of the shoe to performthe function for which the element is intended. When these two walls have been secured together all around their edges, there is formed between the walls an air chamber which is adapted to re- 7 ceive the air under pressure for thepurpose'of inflating the unit and enabling it to do its work.

The air supply has been controlled in the past in various ways, one of these being by the use of one valve connected with the source of compressed air, and with the interior of the pressing element for the purpose ofletting air into the pressing element when it is'desired to inflate the same, and for the purpose of shutting oif the air supply when the element has finished its work of leveling, shaping or securing the sole of the shoe. However, it will readily be seen that something more than a mere shutting off of the air supply is necessary, because the presselement is already filled with air under pressure, and this air under pressure must be released so the shoe can be removed from thepressing unit. For the purpose of releasing this air, there has previously been provided a Separate valve communicating-with the interior of the unit, andhaving an outlet into the open air.

' The difliculties of the arrangement just described will be obvious; Before compressed air;

be opened to admit "the compressed"airinto-the unit. After the unit had done its work, it was then necessary to first close the intake valve or supply valve, and then open the release valve to release the pressure from the unit. If through an oversight the intake valvewere opened to admit air under pressure to the unit while the ex: haust valve or outlet valve was in open position, it is readily apparent thall lil'le air under pressure would pass directly through the unit and out through the outlet valve, thus not only defieatingv thev purpose of theunit but also losing valu able .time and a considerable amount of compressed air. If on the other hand, the intake valve were'not closed prior to the time the exhaust valve was opened, the same result would ensue from an opening of the exhaust valve.

Furthermore, aside from the possibility of mistakes in operating this structure, it will readily be appreciated that much more time was consumed in operating a two valve unit than would be necessary if there were some single control means; p

It is therefore one of the objects of this invention to-provide a single device for controlling the intake and outlet of a unit of' the type re ferred to. 7

Another object of this invention is to provide such a unitary intake and outlet that will overcomeallrof the disadvantages of the prior art, but which-will at the same time be compact, eilicient, and free from trouble due to 10, 18 periods of wear.

Other objects and advantages will become apparent'irom the following description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, it being distinctly understood that the same are by way of illustrationand example only and are not .topbe taken as in any way limiting the spirit or scope of this invention. The spirit and scope of this invention are to be limited only by the priorart and by the terms-of the appended claims.

Referring now more particularly to the draw! ingsin which like numerals indicatecorresponding parts throughout: a

Figure 1 is a side elevation of a unit embody- On the upper side of the portion the valve head adapted to fit against the structure shown in Figure 5.

Referring first to Figural, there isshown a unit of the type referred to embodying this invention, the same being mounted on'a .pair'ofj Forming a.

hollow support members 1 and 2. base for the pressing unit proper is a member 3 which is preferably formedof cast iron or some similar material. and is provided adjacent one end with atransverse opening for the purpose of receiving the hollow support member 2. Adjacent the other endof the member 3 it is provided with a semi-circular bearing portion 4 adapted toreceive the hollowsupport member 1'. The support member 1 is then held in position within the semi-circular portion 4 by r means of a cap member 5 secured to the portion 4; by-.-means of cap screws 6 extending through openings in the ears 7 of the cap member 5 and being threaded into tapped holes in the member 3.

4 there is formed a hooked shaped projection 8 extending toward the-opposite end of l the member 3 and substantially parallel thereto.-

. At theopposite end of the member 3, there is provided a-depending portion 9 located directly below the hollow support member 2, and having an opening therethrough for receiving the shaft 10 on which :are mounted the arms 11.

- This opposite end of the member 3 is also provided, with a portion adapted to form one part of the valve mechanism-for controlling the air supply tothe unit, and to receive and support the other parts of this valve mechanism. The other parts of the valve mechanism-are shown as bei ing secured to the extension on the member 3 by means such as cap screws 12 passing through openings 'providedsfor-the purpose in the marginal portion of. the valve head 13. This valve head alsoihas an extensionat its upper edge for a purpose which will be later described.

5 -Mounted on top of the member- 3 andhaving a hook 14 engaging-the hook 8 on the member3 is the rigid cup-shaped wall 15 which goes to form the lower part of the. pneumatically operated pressing unit; As previously mentioned, such parts as the member 15 are usually made of cast iron ,or, some similar material. The rigid wall memberifi is, supported at one endon the hook 8;as shown in Figure 1, and is supportedat its opposite endon an abutment member 16 which rests; against'a cut away portion 17 near the opposite-end of the member 3. This member 15'is also provided with a downwardly extending enlarged part 18 adapted to-oppose the upwardly extending portion 19 of the valve head 13. Cap

screws 20 are provided for passingthrough open-, ings in the extension 19 and into tapped openings inthe member 18 for the purpose of securing these parts together in close relationship. It

. willbe seen fromthis arrangement that the'cap screws serve to firmly position the member 15 on The clamping means just referred to consists in general of an arm 24. securely mounted on the hollow support member 1 and adjustably clamped thereto by means of a cap member and cap screws 26." This'arm 24 is mounted on the hollow support member adjacent the member 3 on one side thereof, and another arm 24 which is in effect exactly the same as the one just described is mounted on the opposite side of the member 3. .At their upper ends, the arms 24 areeach provided withv bearings for receiving the pins 2'1 which project in opposite directions from each of a pair of spaced ears 28 on the housing member 29 to pivotally mount the same. The housing member 29 is arranged on its inner surfaces to provide'a vertical slide way for the purpose of receiving a corresponding slide on the beam 30 and allowing the beam 30'to slide up or down therein. As has been stated, the ears 28 on the housing member29 are spaced from. each other, so'that the beam 30 may pass between them. For the purpose of adjusting thevertical position of the beam 30 within the housing member 29, there is provided a threaded member 31 adapted to pass into the housing member 29 and to cooperate with the beam 30 to position it in whatever vertical position may be desired. The beam 30 is extended from the housing past the ears 28 in the manner just described, and is provided at its extremity with a plurality of openings 32 adapted to receive the ends of springs. 33 for the purpose of resiliently holding in its lowermost position this end of the beam 30. The lower ends of the springs 33 are secured to eyelets 34 provided on the cap member 5 for that purpose.

In order to facilitate the description, the ends of the beam 30 to which the springs 33 are attached will be hereinafter referred to as the rear end of the beam, and the opposite end will be referred to as the forward end of the beam.

The beam 30 is enlarged at the forward end thereof as indicated at 35 for the purpose of providingfor the rectangular opening 36 extending transversely of the beam. Extending transversely through the opening 36, and vertically slidable therein is a'cross'beam 37, its vertical position within the opening 36 being determined by an adjustable member38 extending through the top of the enlarged portion 35 into the opening 36 and engaging the beam 3'7 in much the same manner-that the adjustable device indicatedat 31 engages the beam 30.

At theopposite ends of'the cross beam 37 there are pivotally connected a pair of links 38 which extend downwardly to the opposite ends of the arms 11, and are pivotally connected thereto, as at 39. These links 38' are curved at a position opposite the shaft 10 so that when the arms 11 are swung about the shaft 10 to their lowermost position they may swing past their center position to a small degree and the links 38 will have theirbent portions 40 in engagement with the shaftv 10. r

It will be apparentthat when the parts are in the position just described the beam 30 will be locked with its forward end down, and can not be raised until the arms 11 are first pushed toward the rear. It will be noted at this point that the arms 11 are connected to each other by means of a web or some other suitable arrangement 41, and that thisarrangement carries an abutment 42 which is adapted when the arms 11 are pushed rearwardly to release the beam 30 to come into engagement with the rubber bumper 43 provided for that purpose on the under surface of the member 3.

Going back now to the description of the beam 30, it is noted that this beam is provided at a point substantially at its forward end with a downwardly extending lug 44, and is provided with another similar downwardly extending lug 45at a point adjacent the housing member 29. These two downwardly extending lugs have openings therethrough adapted to journal the ends of a threaded shaft 46 having a crank 4'7 at its forward end by which it may be turned. As will be noted, the forward end of the shaft 46 is provided with one set of threads 48, and the rearward portion of this shaft is provided with another set of threads 49, the twosets of threads 48 and 49 being left hand and right hand threads respectively.

Surrounding the shaft 46, and in threaded engagement with the threaded portion 48, is a block or abutment 50 which is adapted to engage a projecting portion of the last 23 within the shoe 22, and press the said last against the flexible wall 21 of the pressing unit.

Surrounding the shaft 46 and in threaded engagement with the threaded portion 49, is a second block 51. This block 51 is slotted to receive a pad element 52, which in turn is adapted to press against the toe portion of the shoe 22 and hold the said toe-portion against the flexible wall 21 of the pressing unit. The member 52 may be secured to the block 51 by any suitable means such as the key 53.

Themeans which has been referred to for admitting air to and releasing it fromthe pressing unit will now be described.

In the-first place, provision is made for connecting the hollow support 2 toa source of compressed air, and for so closing the ends of the hollow member .2 as to prevent escape of such air. As shown in Figures 1 and 4, an opening 54 having an enlarged end portion 55 is'formed through the valve supportingextension of the member 3 to communicate with the interior of the hollow support member 2. The outer end of this opening is closed by means of a plug 56 of anysuitable construction. Referring now particularly to Figure 2, it will be seen that this extension of the member 3 is provided with a cylindr cal valve chamber 57, and. that a passage 58 is formed from this valve chamber down to the enlarged portion 550i the opening 54. In forming this opening it is of course necessary to drill from the outside of the member 3, and hence it is necessary to close the opening between the atmosphere and the opening 55 by suitable means such as a plug 59. The chamber 57 in the extension of'member 3 is closed at one end and has its other opening at the inner side of the said extension.

. As will be seen from Figure 2 and Figure 3, the diameter of the valve chamber 5'7 is consider ably greater than its depth, and it is provided at its bottom with a small depression 60 for thep'ur pose of receiving and positioning the end of the spring 61. The spring 61 is a compression spring and there is placed against its opposite end arotatable' valve 62 of such a diameter as to just fit within the chamber 57, and having a small depression 63 centrally of its inner face for the purpose of receiving the opposite end of the spring 61.

Referring now to Figure 2, it will be seen that the member 15 at a point substantially above the valve mechanism is provided with a conduit or opening 64 leading from the interior of the pressing element and terminating at its outer end in the space which is adapted to receive the extension 19 of the valve head.

The valve head itself is preferably formed with an opening adapted to receive a stationary valve seat member 65 which is substantially cylindrical and of the same outer diameter as the valve 62. This valve seat member is secured into and made substantially integral with the valve head 13 and has a part66 projecting slightly from the base of the valve head 13 adapted to enter and press against the face of the valve 62 and close the open end of valve chamber 57.

The valve head 13 is provided with an opening 67 adapted to register with the opening 64 in the member 15 when the valve head is in position, and is further provided with a channel 68 leading from the opening 6'7 to the valve seat member 65. The outer end of the opening 68 which is necessarily made when the channel 68 is formed, is closed by any suitable means such as the plug 69.

Referring now to Figure 4, it will be seen that the valve seat member 65 is provided with a peripheral segmental opening '70 connecting the channel 68 with a passage '71 positioned to one side of the axis thereof. The valve seat member 65 is also provided with a conduit '72 therein dis posed on the opposite side of the axis from the passage '71, and communicating with an outlet '73 in valve'head 13 which opens to the atmosphere.

' Axially disposed within the valve seating member 65 is a shaft '74 adapted to rotate therein for the purpose of causing the rotation of the valve 62. This shaft '74 is provided with a shoulder '75 for the purpose of preventing endwise movement in an outward direction, and is further provided with a key portion '76 adapted to fit within the key-slot '77 of the valve 62 for the purpose of rotating the same. This shaft is also squared at its outer end '78 and is provided with a handle '79 having a squared opening adapted to fit the squared end 78 of the shaft '74. The handle may be secured on the shaft by means such as a screw 80. A gasket 87 is inserted under the valve head 13 to form an air tight joint between the parts.

As will be seen from Figure 5, the valve 62 is provided with a port 81 extending entirely there through to one side of its axis. On the opposite side of its axis and extending slightly more-than half way around the valve is a groove 82. As will be noted from Figures 2 and 3, this groove 82, unlike the port 81 does not extend all the way through the valve. l

Now it will readily be seen that when the valve 62 is turned to such a position that its port 81 registers with the passage '71 in the valve seating member 65, air under pressure will be allowed to pass from the hollow support member 2 up into the valve chamber 5'7, through the port 81 in the valve and the passage '71 and opening 70 in the valve'seating member and thence through the channel 68 and opening 6'7'in the valve head into the opening 64 in the member 15 and into the pressing element. I

On the other hand, when the valve 62 is turned so that its groove 82 interconnects the passage 71 and conduit 72 of the valve seating member, the

air under pressure in the pressing element would be allowed to pass outwardly through the opening 64 in the member 15, through the openings 67 and 68 in the valve head 13, through the segmental opening .70 and passage 71 in the valve seating member, around through the groove 82 into the conduit 72 and out to the atmosphere through the outlet 73.

Now referring again to Figure 1, it will be seen that the handle 79 is provided with a counterbalance 83. Adjacent this counter-balance, the member 3 is provided with an opening adapted to receive a shaft 84 having an arm 85 thereon, the same being provided with a pin 86 at its outer end.

When a shoe is placed upon the flexible Wall 21 of the pressing element, the pressing element should be deflated and opened to the atmosphere. With the blocks 50 and 51 adjusted to their proper position by means of the crank 47, the beam 30 is pulled down to swing about its pivot 2'7 until the links 40 come in contact with the shaft 10, thus locking the beam in its downward position. Air under compression is now admitted to the pressing element by turning the valve handle '79 to such a position that the port 81 in the Valve will register with the passage 71 in the valve seating member 65, and the compressed air which is thus admitted to the pressing element 21 forces the flexible wall against the bottom of the shoe and shapes it to the last 23 which is placed within the shoe. It is understood that the other operations previously set forth may be performed at the same time or in the same manner.

As soon as the work on the shoe has been accomplished, the shaft 84 is caused to rotate in a counter-clockwise direction as seen in Figure 1, whereby the pin 86 on the arm 85 will be caused to strike against the counter-weight 83 on the shaft handle and rotate the shaft handle to such a position that the groove 82 in the valve will overlap the passage '71 and conduit '72 in the valve seating member, thus allowing the compressed air in the pressing element to escape to the atmosphere. Preferably the control, as well as the other elements shown are adapted to be secured upon a revoluble carrier of the form shown by Letters Patent 1,940,597 granted December 19, 1934. The shaft 84 is'intermittently rocked in a suitable means carried thereby arranged in the path of a tripping mechanism therefor. The said means and tripping mechanism preferably will be of the form shown in the patent aforesaid.

After the compressed air has been released from the pressing element in the manner just described, the arms 11 are pushed backwardly to move the links 40 away from the shaft 10, and the springs 33 will then cause the forward end of the beam 30 to be raised until the abutment 42 comes in contact with the rubber bumper 43. The shoe 22 and the last 23 are then fully released so that they may be removed from the machine and another shoe put in its place so that the same operation may be performed upon it.

It will be seen from the above that a means has been provided for carrying out the objects of this invention, and for admitting compressed air to and releasing it from the pressing unit of the nature set forth. It will be noted that the means which has been provided is positive in its action, and that the parts are so arranged that a long period of wear will have little or no effect on the efficiency of the valve. It will. be further apparent that by virtue of the arrangement just set forth, the mishaps previouslydescribed in connection with the prior art will be entirely avoided and made impossible.

It is to be understood of course that various changesin detail and form may be made in various embodiments of this invention, but that the same are to be considered a part of this invention so long as they fall within the scope of the appended claims.

What we claim is:

1. In a controlling valve structure for a fluid pressure operated pressing element, a casting recessed transversely to provide a cylindrical valve chamber closed at one end and having its other end opening at the inner side of the casting, said casting being formed with a pressure fluid inlet means opening into said chamber, a valve head arranged in juxtaposition to said side and being formed with a channel for conducting pressure fluid in a direction towards and from its point of application, said head being formed with an outlet opening into the atmosphere, a stationary valve seat member arranged within said head and having its inner end extending into the open end of said chamber for closing the latter, said member being formed with a passage, a conduit and a peripheral segmental opening, said opening connecting the passage to said channel, said conduit registering with said outlet, a rotatable valve within said chamber seating against the inner end of said member and being formed with a port adapted for registration with said passage for supplying pressure fluid to said channel and with a groove independent of said port adapted for interconnecting said passage and conduit together for exhausting pressure fluid from said channel through said outlet, and means carried by said head and member and connected to said valve for rotating the latter for selectively moving said port into registry with said passage and for interconnecting the passage and conduit together. i

2. In a controlling valve structure for a fluid pressure operated pressing element, a, casting recessed transversely to provide a cylindrical valve chamber closed at one end and having its other end opening at the inner side of the casting, said casting being formed with a pressure fluid inlet means opening into said chamber, a valve head arranged in juxtaposition to said side and being formed with a channel for conducting pressure fluid in a direction towards and from its point of application, said head being formed with an outlet opening into the atmosphere, a stationary valve seat member arranged within said head and having its inner end extending into the open end of said chamber for closing the latter, said member being formed with a passage, a conduit and a peripheral segmental opening, said opening connecting the passage to said channel, said conduit registering with said outlet, a rotatable valve within said chamber seating against the inner end of said member and being formed with a port adapted for registration with said passage for supplying pressure fluid to said channel and with a groove independent of said port adapted for interconnecting said passage and conduit together for exhausting pressure fluid from said channel through said outlet, and means carried by said head and member and connected to said valve for rotating the latter for selectively moving said port into registry with said passage and.

for interconnecting the passage and conduit together, the closed end of said chamber being formed with a recess, said valve being formed with a recess, and a coiled spring having its ends seated in said recesses.

3. In a controlling valve structure for a fluid pressure operated pressing element, a casting recessed transversely to provide a cylindrical valve chamber closed at one end and having its other end opening at the inner side of the casting, said casting being formed with a pressure fluid inlet means opening into said chamber, a valve head arranged in juxtaposition to said side and being formed with a channel for conducting pressure fluid in a direction towards and from its point of application, said head being formed with an outlet opening into the atmosphere, a stationary valve seat member arranged within said head and having its inner end extending into the open end of said chamber for closing the latter, said member being formed with a passage, a conduit and a peripheral segmental opening, said opening connecting the passage to said channel, said conduit registering with said outlet, a rotatable valve Within said chamber seating against the inner end of said member and being formed with a port adapted for registration with said passage for supplying pressure fluid to said channel and with a groove independent of said port adapted for interconnecting said passage and conduit together for exhausting pressure fluid from said channel through said outlet, and means carried by said head and member and connected to said valve for rotating the latter for selectively moving said port into registry with said passage and for interconnecting the passage and conduit together, said valve head being formed with an extension extending above said casting, and said channel being arranged in said extension.

4. In a controlling valve structure for a fluid pressure operated pressing element, a casting recessed transversely to provide a cylindrical valve chamber closed at one end and having its other end opening at the inner side of the casting, said casting being formed with a pressure fluid inlet means opening into said chamber, a. valve head arranged in juxtaposition to said side and being formed with a channel for conducting pressure fluid in a direction towards and from its point of application, said head being formed with an outlet opening into the atmosphere, a stationary valve seat member arranged within said head and closing the open end of said chamber, said member being formed with a passage, a conduit and a peripheral segmental opening, said opening connecting the passage to said channel, said conduit registering with said outlet, a rotatable valve within said chamber seating against the inner end of said member and being formed with a port adapted for registration with said passage for supplying pressure fluid to said channel and with a groove independent of said port adapted for interconnecting said passage and conduit together for exhausting pressure fluid from said channel through said outlet, and means carried by said head and member and connected to said valve for rotating the latter for selectively moving said port into registry with said passage and for interconnecting the passage and conduit together, said conduit being of angleform and having one of its legs disposed in parallel spaced relation to and of greater length than said passage, the other leg of said conduit being oppositely disposed and in spaced relation to said segmental opening.

CHARLES A. MEISEL. OTTO C. F. MEISEL. 

